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LEXINGTON — Ahead of April's 2025 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns may want to give Mapleton coach Nick Hickey a call.
Hickey, who coached the North team to a 150-114 win over the South in the 46th News Journal All-Star Classic on Friday night at Lexington High School, went into the NJ Classic draft not really knowing a lot about the pool of players in front of him.
But boy could he pick them. His best pick of the draft came at No. 16 (out of 21 total picks) when he took Highland senior Toby Rogers. Hickey found a diamond at No. 16 as Rogers took home Most Valuable Player honors in the North's win by scoring 36 points and adding 12 rebounds and two assists while shooting 15-for-23 from the floor, 4-of-8 from three and 11-for-15 from inside the arch.
Not a bad pick toward the end of the draft.
"Good management," Hickey said with a laugh. "If anyone is looking for someone to build their team, I am their guy. I hadn't heard of him before I drafted him, so it is special to find a kid like that."
The Browns, who hold the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL Draft, should absolutely bring Hickey in for a consult.
Rogers scored 19 points in the first half on 8-of-11 shooting. His put-back dunk late in the first half extended the North's lead out to 61-52 as the South never recovered from the momentum the highlight-reel slam gave the North.
"Nothing like that in my life," Rogers said of the feeling he felt during his MVP performance. "That was my first in-game dunk and that alone felt amazing. It was nice to just go out and have no pressure and just have fun playing the game. It was amazing to do this."
What made his feat even more amazing was he bookended the NJ Classic for his home school of Highland. Back in 1979, the very first NJ Classic, Highland's Wayne Warwick took home the MVP trophy after scoring 21 points in the inaugural charity contest. So the first and the newest Classic MVP sported the Fighting Scots' red and blue during their high school playing days.
"I have no clue," Rogers said when asked if he knew the name Wayne Warwick. "It is pretty good to bring this back to Highland. There aren't many awards that come to Highland so it means a lot to bring this trophy home."
Rogers ended his senior season with averages of 12.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.1 assists and one steal during the Scots' 7-win season. He ended his high school career as the No. 5 highest scorer in the NJ Classic's 46-year history with 36 points tying Ashland's Garrett Denbow.
"I think it is really cool because I haven't won many awards so to win it is special," Rogers said. "But it was even more special to just come out and play with these guys and have a new experience."
Hickey knew early on he had found something special in Rogers when the lanky lefty lit up the three practices during the week of the game.
"I was so impressed with him during our practices," Hickey said. "He has a great basketball build and was so smooth on the court and he brought that to the game tonight. He is so good under control and I would have love to have coached him on my team."
Rogers ended up scoring 17 points in the second half as part of a historic performance as he goes down as the only Highland Fighting Scot to score 30-plus points in the NJ Classic's history.
"He was big from the beginning," Hickey said. "And he played so hard. I think he set the tone for the rest of our guys to go out and play with a lot of effort. At the beginning of the second half, Toby came out the way we ask our guys to during the season. He spent the first couple of minutes running the floor, getting layups and playing some great defense. We were lucky he was on our team."
But it wasn't just an individually historic performance. Rogers helped the North tie the Classic record for most points by one team with 150, joining the 1996 and 2023 North teams. This year's North team had three chances in the closing seconds to best the record and even though they fell short, Rogers admits it was a memorable experience.
"We knew we could get it but when we saw it within reach, we really pushed hard for it," Rogers said. "We tried to make a run at it there at the end, but to experience scoring 150 points is something I will never forget."
The North came just two points shy of tying the Classic record for most points in a half as it scored 83 second-half points. The 1997 North team had 85.
"The entire team was super unselfish," Hickey said. "They were moving the ball and hitting the open guy all night and we knocked down open shots. It was a very fun group to coach."
And it was a fun team to play on for Rogers, who came into the game with very little expectations but walked out with an MVP trophy and a game full of memories.
And a new career-high.
"My goal was to just come in and score 10 points," Rogers said. "I at least wanted to get double-digits, but 36 wasn't even in my wildest dreams. 30 is my career high, so it was cool to set a new one in my final game."
As for the home for his bronze-plated trophy?
"I don't know yet," Rogers said. "I may see if the school wants to put it in the trophy case just so it is always there."
Highland may have to add his draft card to the display.
[email protected]
740-244-9934
X: @JakeFurr11
1979 Wayne Warwick, Highland
1980 Joe Jakubick, Madison
1981 Eric Huffman, Lexington
1982 Mike Lillo, Willard
1983 Randy Krebs, Buckeye Central
1984 Steve Martenet, Malabar
1985 Tim Dennison, Madison
1986 Bryan ***, Willard
1987 Steve Gregory, Mt. Vernon
1988 Darron Minard, Mansfield Sr.
1989 Tom Scholl, Lexington
1990 Will Meadows, St. Peter's
1991 J.C. Ehmann, Colonel Crawford
1992 Mark Lee, Mansfield Senior
1993 Bubba Harris, Colonel Crawford
1994 Andy Kanzig, Loudonville
1995 Sean Tucker, Mansfield Sr.
1996 Dan Norris, Madison
1997 Dubrey Black, Mansfield Senior
1998 Justin Larrick, Madison
1999 Marquis Sykes, Mansfield Senior
2000 Herman Davis, Mansfield Senior
2001 Lance Hood, Mansfield Senior
2002 Terrence Davison, Mansfield Senior
2003 Antonio Graves, Mansfield Senior
2004 Marcus Butler, St. Peter’s
2005 J.B. Shuck, Galion
2006 Rashad Reed, Mansfield Senior
2007 Antwoine Smith, Mansfield Senior
2008 Taylor Housewright, Ashland
2009 Jordyn Hatcher, Galion
2010 Charlie Richardson, Ontario
2011 Tyler Lilly, Mansfield Christian
2012 Jared Mott, Temple Christian
2013 Grant Fenner, Shelby
2014 Cameron Mack, Ontario
2015 Tyson Beebe, Plymouth
2016 Brayden Wilhelm, South Central
2017 Tyson Kent, St. Peter’s
2018 Jared Jakubick, St. Peter’s
2019: Quan Hilory, Mansfield Senior
2020: DNP
2021: David Lamoreaux, South Central
2022: Maurice Ware, Mansfield Senior
2023: Jayden Jeffries, Madison
2024: Amarr Davis, Mansfield Christian
2025: Toby Rogers, Highland
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Highland's Toby Rogers wins 46th News Journal All-Star Classic MVP award
Continue reading...
Hickey, who coached the North team to a 150-114 win over the South in the 46th News Journal All-Star Classic on Friday night at Lexington High School, went into the NJ Classic draft not really knowing a lot about the pool of players in front of him.
But boy could he pick them. His best pick of the draft came at No. 16 (out of 21 total picks) when he took Highland senior Toby Rogers. Hickey found a diamond at No. 16 as Rogers took home Most Valuable Player honors in the North's win by scoring 36 points and adding 12 rebounds and two assists while shooting 15-for-23 from the floor, 4-of-8 from three and 11-for-15 from inside the arch.
Not a bad pick toward the end of the draft.
"Good management," Hickey said with a laugh. "If anyone is looking for someone to build their team, I am their guy. I hadn't heard of him before I drafted him, so it is special to find a kid like that."
The Browns, who hold the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL Draft, should absolutely bring Hickey in for a consult.
Rogers scored 19 points in the first half on 8-of-11 shooting. His put-back dunk late in the first half extended the North's lead out to 61-52 as the South never recovered from the momentum the highlight-reel slam gave the North.
"Nothing like that in my life," Rogers said of the feeling he felt during his MVP performance. "That was my first in-game dunk and that alone felt amazing. It was nice to just go out and have no pressure and just have fun playing the game. It was amazing to do this."
What made his feat even more amazing was he bookended the NJ Classic for his home school of Highland. Back in 1979, the very first NJ Classic, Highland's Wayne Warwick took home the MVP trophy after scoring 21 points in the inaugural charity contest. So the first and the newest Classic MVP sported the Fighting Scots' red and blue during their high school playing days.
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"I have no clue," Rogers said when asked if he knew the name Wayne Warwick. "It is pretty good to bring this back to Highland. There aren't many awards that come to Highland so it means a lot to bring this trophy home."
Rogers ended his senior season with averages of 12.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.1 assists and one steal during the Scots' 7-win season. He ended his high school career as the No. 5 highest scorer in the NJ Classic's 46-year history with 36 points tying Ashland's Garrett Denbow.
"I think it is really cool because I haven't won many awards so to win it is special," Rogers said. "But it was even more special to just come out and play with these guys and have a new experience."
Hickey knew early on he had found something special in Rogers when the lanky lefty lit up the three practices during the week of the game.
"I was so impressed with him during our practices," Hickey said. "He has a great basketball build and was so smooth on the court and he brought that to the game tonight. He is so good under control and I would have love to have coached him on my team."
Rogers ended up scoring 17 points in the second half as part of a historic performance as he goes down as the only Highland Fighting Scot to score 30-plus points in the NJ Classic's history.
"He was big from the beginning," Hickey said. "And he played so hard. I think he set the tone for the rest of our guys to go out and play with a lot of effort. At the beginning of the second half, Toby came out the way we ask our guys to during the season. He spent the first couple of minutes running the floor, getting layups and playing some great defense. We were lucky he was on our team."
But it wasn't just an individually historic performance. Rogers helped the North tie the Classic record for most points by one team with 150, joining the 1996 and 2023 North teams. This year's North team had three chances in the closing seconds to best the record and even though they fell short, Rogers admits it was a memorable experience.
"We knew we could get it but when we saw it within reach, we really pushed hard for it," Rogers said. "We tried to make a run at it there at the end, but to experience scoring 150 points is something I will never forget."
The North came just two points shy of tying the Classic record for most points in a half as it scored 83 second-half points. The 1997 North team had 85.
"The entire team was super unselfish," Hickey said. "They were moving the ball and hitting the open guy all night and we knocked down open shots. It was a very fun group to coach."
And it was a fun team to play on for Rogers, who came into the game with very little expectations but walked out with an MVP trophy and a game full of memories.
And a new career-high.
"My goal was to just come in and score 10 points," Rogers said. "I at least wanted to get double-digits, but 36 wasn't even in my wildest dreams. 30 is my career high, so it was cool to set a new one in my final game."
As for the home for his bronze-plated trophy?
"I don't know yet," Rogers said. "I may see if the school wants to put it in the trophy case just so it is always there."
Highland may have to add his draft card to the display.
[email protected]
740-244-9934
X: @JakeFurr11
You must be registered for see images
NEWS JOURNAL ALL-STAR CLASSIC MOST VALUABLE PLAYERS
1979 Wayne Warwick, Highland
1980 Joe Jakubick, Madison
1981 Eric Huffman, Lexington
1982 Mike Lillo, Willard
1983 Randy Krebs, Buckeye Central
1984 Steve Martenet, Malabar
1985 Tim Dennison, Madison
1986 Bryan ***, Willard
1987 Steve Gregory, Mt. Vernon
1988 Darron Minard, Mansfield Sr.
1989 Tom Scholl, Lexington
1990 Will Meadows, St. Peter's
1991 J.C. Ehmann, Colonel Crawford
1992 Mark Lee, Mansfield Senior
1993 Bubba Harris, Colonel Crawford
1994 Andy Kanzig, Loudonville
1995 Sean Tucker, Mansfield Sr.
1996 Dan Norris, Madison
1997 Dubrey Black, Mansfield Senior
1998 Justin Larrick, Madison
1999 Marquis Sykes, Mansfield Senior
2000 Herman Davis, Mansfield Senior
2001 Lance Hood, Mansfield Senior
2002 Terrence Davison, Mansfield Senior
2003 Antonio Graves, Mansfield Senior
2004 Marcus Butler, St. Peter’s
2005 J.B. Shuck, Galion
2006 Rashad Reed, Mansfield Senior
2007 Antwoine Smith, Mansfield Senior
2008 Taylor Housewright, Ashland
2009 Jordyn Hatcher, Galion
2010 Charlie Richardson, Ontario
2011 Tyler Lilly, Mansfield Christian
2012 Jared Mott, Temple Christian
2013 Grant Fenner, Shelby
2014 Cameron Mack, Ontario
2015 Tyson Beebe, Plymouth
2016 Brayden Wilhelm, South Central
2017 Tyson Kent, St. Peter’s
2018 Jared Jakubick, St. Peter’s
2019: Quan Hilory, Mansfield Senior
2020: DNP
2021: David Lamoreaux, South Central
2022: Maurice Ware, Mansfield Senior
2023: Jayden Jeffries, Madison
2024: Amarr Davis, Mansfield Christian
2025: Toby Rogers, Highland
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Highland's Toby Rogers wins 46th News Journal All-Star Classic MVP award
Continue reading...
